Saturday, November 7, 2009

The “Just” Taint of Misbehaviour

“How often do the few spoil it for the many?”

Goal posts shift frequently in life and most people claim it to be unfair.The truth is most of the time the rules change because some person, people group or situation found a loophole that was always there.At other times, there’s a trend toward not reaching the previously established standards and hence the few spoil it for the many to come after.

The legislated systems philosophy is really about narrowing the odds and reducing variation, making results almost computer-like predictable.This helps ensure the system is efficient.Sometimes ‘the system,’ however—with human fingerprints all over it, overcompensates and the rules become overly stringent.The impression is left that it is unfair.

The misbehaviour or lack of diligence that highlighted the loophole somehow leaves a taint on the impression of those coming through to use the more stringent system, yet there are always natural forces present to ensure the system remains workable.

If the system doesn’t work for a while, those very same forces collude to produce revolutionary change so as to make the system workable again.

And we ought to remember this.Moves towards injustice, whatever comes, are always rectified by the universal laws in place that have worked since before the dawn of time.

And this is where our faith is tested.Can we see the overall plan at play?Can we step back and see aright despite our personal leanings and inklings?The universal laws are constructed in a way that they favour no one, so how can we pretend they go against us deliberately?That thinking is nonsensical.

We are better to take a distant, third person, view when our hearts and minds are convoluted over issues in this world.

This is what the logical mind was designed for; to help us distance ourselves from the emotion, and the personal risks of loss, so we can make the best decisions.